Neocaridina profile
Blue Dream shrimp
Neocaridina davidi var. Blue Dream
Blue Dream shrimp are a deep blue Neocaridina davidi line. They are hardy and beginner-friendly when the aquarium is mature, stable and free from copper and nitrogen spikes.
Quick verdict
Suitable for: Beginners with a fully cycled, stable aquarium. Watch especially: stability over perfect values.
Quick care card
Use this card as a starting point. Always check whether your aquarium is stable enough for sensitive species.
18 - 28 °C
6.5 - 8
6 - 15 °dH
3 - 10 °dH
150 - 350 ppm
From 20 liters
Easy
Peaceful group shrimp that grazes throughout the day
Biofilm, algae and light supplemental shrimp food
Breeds readily in freshwater with direct development
Beginners with a fully cycled, stable aquarium
Important
Do not add these shrimp to a fresh or unstable aquarium. Most problems are caused by ammonia, nitrite, copper, water that is much colder than the tank, or rapid changes in pH, GH, KH and TDS. Do not mix different Neocaridina color lines if you want to preserve color-stable offspring.
Care in practice
These are the points that most often make the difference between survival and a stable colony.
A safe practical range is 18-27 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5-8.0, GH 6-12, KH 2-8 and TDS roughly 150-300 ppm. For active breeding, stable middle values usually work better than chasing extremes: around 22-24 degrees, neutral to slightly alkaline water and enough GH/KH for healthy molts. Test especially when you see molting problems, losses after water changes or declining breeding activity.
Use a well-cycled aquarium from 20 liters; 30 to 40 liters is easier to keep stable for a growing colony. Inert substrate, a sponge filter or protected intake, moss, fine plants, leaves and mature biofilm make the tank safer for adults and shrimplets. Dark substrate and plenty of cover reduce stress and make the color stand out more.
These shrimp graze all day on biofilm, algae, detritus and microorganisms. Add small amounts of quality shrimp food, leaf litter or blanched vegetables and remove leftovers if they remain. Overfeeding is more dangerous than skipping a day, because rotting food can quickly raise ammonia, nitrite and bacterial load.
Keep them in a group, preferably at least 10 to 20 animals, so the colony has enough males and females. They are peaceful, visible and active when the aquarium is calm. Sudden hiding often points to stress, predators, unstable water values or a recent disturbance.
A species-only tank is safest for maximum breeding. Small calm fish and snails can often live with adult shrimp, but almost all fish will eat shrimplets if they get the chance. Do not combine this color line with other Neocaridina colors if color purity matters, because offspring can drift back toward wild-type colors over generations.
Blue Dream shrimp breed fully in freshwater. Females carry eggs under the abdomen for about 3 to 4 weeks, and the young hatch as tiny fully formed shrimp. No brackish-water stage is needed. A mature aquarium with biofilm, moss, fine food for shrimplets and a protected filter intake gives the best survival. Avoid large cleanups, hungry fish and sudden water changes while the colony is breeding.
Common mistakes are adding shrimp to an immature tank, correcting water values too quickly, using replacement water that is much colder than the aquarium, letting food rot, using medication or fertilizer containing copper, leaving filter intakes unprotected and mixing different Neocaridina color lines while expecting color-stable offspring.
Background and identification
Extra context helps you identify, compare and keep the species safely.
Neocaridina davidi is a freshwater shrimp from East and Southeast Asia, with sources commonly mentioning Taiwan and a broader region including China, Korea and Vietnam. Aquarium color morphs are selectively bred lines rather than separate wild species. In natural and feral populations, Neocaridina davidi grazes on biofilm, algae, detritus and small organisms on surfaces.
Blue Dream shrimp have a darker, richer blue color than lighter blue lines. Females are usually larger and more intensely colored than males. Color depth depends on genetics, age, stress, food and substrate.
Red, blue, yellow, orange, green, black, chocolate and Rili shrimp are usually color lines of Neocaridina davidi. Their care is broadly the same, but color lines should be kept separate if you want predictable offspring. Crosses between colors are biologically harmless, but they often produce wild-type brown or gray young after a few generations.
Full species profile
The Blue Dream shrimp is a selectively bred color line of Neocaridina davidi. It is not a separate species with completely different care, but a color form of the same hardy freshwater shrimp behind many red, yellow, orange, blue and Rili lines. This makes it a good first dwarf shrimp when the aquarium is fully cycled and water values stay stable.
Appearance
Blue Dream shrimp are known for a deep blue body color, often darker and more saturated than Blue Velvet or Blue Jelly lines. Well-selected females can look almost navy blue, while males are usually slimmer and lighter.
Water parameters and stability
A safe practical range is 18-27 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5-8.0, GH 6-12, KH 2-8 and TDS roughly 150-300 ppm. For breeding and clean molts, a stable middle range is usually better than chasing exact numbers. Stability matters more than perfection.
Aquarium setup
Start with at least 20 liters, although 30 to 40 liters gives more stability for a growing colony. Use inert substrate, a sponge filter or protected intake, moss, fine plants, leaves and other surfaces for biofilm. A darker substrate often improves visible color and gives the shrimp more cover.
Feeding
These shrimp mainly eat biofilm, algae, detritus and tiny food particles. Supplement lightly with shrimp food, leaf litter and occasional blanched vegetables. Feed less rather than more; leftovers can quickly damage water quality.
Behavior and tank mates
They are peaceful group animals. Start with 10 to 20 shrimp so the colony has a healthy mix of males and females. Calm snails and very small peaceful fish may work with adults, but most fish will eat shrimplets. For maximum breeding, a shrimp-only tank is safest.
Breeding
Blue Dream shrimp breed fully in freshwater. Females carry eggs under the abdomen for roughly 3 to 4 weeks, and the young hatch as miniature shrimp. They do not need brackish water. Mature biofilm, moss and a shrimp-safe filter intake are more important for young shrimp than heavy feeding.
Color and selection
Keep Blue Dream shrimp separate from other Neocaridina colors and lighter blue lines if you want stable deep-blue offspring. Regular selection helps prevent pale, patchy or wild-type young.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about Blue Dream shrimp.
Sources and review
Last reviewed: June 13, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.